Koronadal, officially the City of Koronadal (; ; ; Maguindanaon: Kuta nu Kurunadal, ) and also known as Marbel, is a component city and capital of the province of South Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 201,844 people.
Koronadal is the capital city of the province of South Cotabato and serves as the regional administrative center of Soccsksargen (Region XII). It is also the second most populous city in both South Cotabato and the entire Soccsksargen region, following General Santos.
Koronadal is one of the two cities in Mindanao with a predominantly Hiligaynon-speaking population, comprising approximately 95% of its residents. In 2003 and 2005 the city was recognized as "Most Competitive City" in the small-city category, and in 2005 and 2006 as the most business friendly city in Mindanao.
Etymology The word Koronadal is popularly thought to have come from the B'laan words kolon “cogon grass” (Imperata cylindrica), and datal “plain”, which aptly described the place to natives. On the other hand, Marbel, which refers to the población, is from the Blaan term marb el "murky waters", in reference to the referring to the Marbel River.
History
The area was first settled by the Blaan and Maguindanao. Koronadal once comprised the area from the banks of Buluan Lake in the north to Barangay Polonoling in the municipality of Tupi, South Cotabato to the south, and from the Quezon mountain range to the northeast to the municipality of T'boli, South Cotabato to the southeast.
It was on August 18, 1947, when President Manuel Roxas signed Executive Order No. 82, creating the municipalities in the entire province of Cotabato, one of which was Marbel. The same executive order likewise mandated the official function of the municipal government which began after the qualification and election of the first set of municipal officials.
The municipal government of Koronadal began its official function on January 1, 1948, with an approved Annual Estimated Budget of . At that time, the land area of the municipality encompassed the present-day municipalities of Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Santo Niño, Surallah, T'Boli, Tampakan, and Tupi in South Cotabato, as well as Isulan in Sultan Kudarat. It became the provincial capital of South Cotabato, which was created under Republic Act No. 4849 on July 18, 1966.
Municipal Council Resolution No. 32, Series of 1948 mandated and proclaimed January 10 as the annual town fiesta commemorating the foundation of Marbel Settlement District of the National Land Settlement.
Cityhood
Koronadal was converted into a component city of South Cotabato by virtue of Republic Act No. 8803 on October 8, 2000.
At present, Koronadal is a fast-developing growth center composed of twenty-seven barangays including the four zones in the población. Being the capital city of South Cotabato, it is the center of the province in terms of political, cultural and socio-economic activities.By virtue of Executive Order No. 304 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Koronadal was named the new regional political and socio-economic center of Soccsksargen on March 30, 2004, with regional departments, bureaus and offices ordered to move from Cotabato City.
Geography Koronadal is located in the northeastern part of South Cotabato province, positioned between approximately 6°24' to 6°34' north latitude and 124°47' to 124°58' east longitude. The city is bordered to the north by the Municipality of Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat; to the northwest by the Municipality of Tantangan; to the northeast by the Municipality of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat; to the south by the Municipality of Tupi, to the southwest by the Municipality of Banga; and to the southeast by the Municipality of Tampakan.
The city's landscape features a combination of flatlands and gently sloping terrain, with approximately 50.18% of its total land area classified as predominantly flat. It is flanked by the Roxas and Quezon mountain ranges, whose elevations reach between 700 and 800 meters above sea level and gradually slope downward toward the city center.
Barangays Koronadal City is politically subdivided into 27 Barangays, and each barangays consists of Puroks while some have Sitios.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 17 Barangays classified as Urban (highlighted in bold) and the rest are classified as Rural.
Assumption (Bulol) Avanceña (Barrio III) Cacub Caloocan Carpenter Hill Concepcion (Barrio VI) Esperanza General Paulino Santos (Barrio I) Mabini Magsaysay Mambucal Morales Namnama New Pangasinan (Barrio IV) Paraiso Rotonda San Isidro San Roque San Jose (Barrio V) Santa Cruz Santo Niño (Barrio II) Saravia (Barrio VIII) Topland (Barrio VII / Zulueta) Zone I (Poblacion) Zone II (Poblacion) Zone III (Poblacion) Zone IV (Poblacion)
Climate
The climate of Koronadal is mild and sub-tropical, belonging to climate Type IV. The place is typhoon free. Rainy months are from June to October.
Demographics
Ethnicity The vast majority of the Koronadal's inhabitants descended from ethnic Hiligaynon migrants from Panay (mainly Iloilo) and Negros Occidental. However, there are other non-native ethnolinguistic groups reside in the city, such as Cebuanos, Ilocanos, and Pangasinans (who both inhabit Barrio IV, also called New Pangasinan, named after their migrant ancestors' province of origin), Bicolanos, Kapampangans, Tagalogs, and Warays, making Koronadal a melting pot of cultures, languages and traditions. The first inhabitants of the city were the indigenous B'laans, T'bolis and Muslim Maguindanaons, who became minorities but significant pluralities in the city today since the early 20th century due to migrations from Luzon and Visayas seeking better opportunities in Mindanao, mainly from agriculture.
Language The main language of Koronadal is Hiligaynon, earning the city its nickname "the Ilonggo Capital of Mindanao". Tagalog, Ilocano and Cebuano are also widely spoken, with the former being the city's secondary lingua franca, while Maguindanaon, Maranao, English, and Arabic are also heard in the city Blaan and T'boli are also spoken by the ethnic groups of the same names who also reside in Koronadal.
Religion Roman Catholicism Roman Catholicism is the largest religious affiliation in Koronadal. The city is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Marbel, which covers the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani. According to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, the Diocese of Marbel served around 1.67 million Catholics as of 2021. Koronadal hosts several Catholic parishes, including the Christ the King Cathedral.
Islam Islam is the second-largest religious group in the city. It is practiced primarily by Muslim communities with roots among the Maguindanaon, Iranun, and other ethnolinguistic groups from nearby provinces, including converts to Islam known as Balik Islam. The city has several mosques, including the Koronadal Grand Mosque, and is part of the broader religious and cultural corridor that links Muslim communities in Mindanao.
Other Christian Denominations Koronadal has a significant population belonging to various Protestant and non-Catholic Christian denominations. These include:
The United Methodist Church (UMC) Iglesia ni Cristo Seventh-day Adventist Church Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Evangelical Christian fellowships The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Members Church of God International (Ang Dating Daan)
These groups operate multiple churches and congregations throughout the city.
Indigenous and Traditional Religions Koronadal is part of the ancestral domain of indigenous peoples such as the B'laan and T'boli. While many indigenous residents have adopted Christianity or Islam, some continue to practice elements of traditional animist beliefs, often in parallel with mainstream religions. CHURCHLOCATIONBARANGAYChrist the King Cathedral Saint Anthony of Padua ParishRafael Alunan AvenueBarangay Zone III (Poblacion) Our Lady of the Rosary ParishPioneer Settlers AvenueBarangay Santa Cruz Sagrada Pamilya ParishKoronadal - Columbio RoadBarangay San Jose (Barrio V) Sacred Heart of Jesus ChapelSergio Morales AvenueBarangay General Paulino Santos (Barrio I) San Miguel Arkanghel ChapelGeneral Paulino Santos DriveBarangay Morales Saint Michael ChapelQuintin Paredes StreetBarangay Zone IV (Poblacion) Our Lady of Hope ChapelPassionist Seminary RoadBarangay Paraiso Our Lady of Perpetual Help ChapelOLPH Seminary RoadBarangay Zone II (Poblacion)San Isidro Labrador ChapelRotonda - Topland RoadBarangay RotondaSan Vicente Ferrer ChapelPurok Maharlika RoadBarangay SaraviaSaint Peter ChapelKoronadal - Tampakan RoadBarangay Concepcion (Barrio VI)Santo Rosario ChapelKoronadal - Tupi RoadBarangay SaraviaOur Lady of Fatima ChapelDe Los Reyes StreetBarangay MoralesSan Jose ChapelSeromines 1st AvenueBarangay CaloocanSeventh-Day Adventist ChurchGeneral Paulino Santos DriveBarangay Zone IV (Poblacion)Marbel Baptist Church (SBC) Marcelo H. del Pilar StreetBarangay Zone IV (Poblacion)Artesian Christian Fellowship (SBC) Koronadal - Tampakan RoadBarangay San RoqueSouthern Cathedral of Faith (SBC)General Paulino Santos DriveBarangay Zone II (Poblacion)Bible Baptist Church (SBC)Sergio Osmeña StreetBarangay Zone II (Poblacion)Gathsemane Baptist Church (SBC)Pioneer Settlers AvenueBarangay Santa CruzLife-Changing International Ministries (SBC)Koronadal - Tantangan RoadBarangay MoralesBarrio VI Baptist Church (SBC)Koronadal - Tampakan RoadBarangay ConcepcionIgelsia Ni CristoGeneral Paulino Santos DriveBarangay Zone III (Poblacion)Iglesia Ni CristoKoronadal - Tantangan RoadBarangay MoralesIglesia Ni CristoKoronadal - Tupi RoadBarangay SaraviaIglesia Ni CristoKoronadal - Tampakan RoadBarangay ConcepcionMembers Church of God InternationalPioneer Settlers AvenueBarangay Santa CruzThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsSergio Osmeña StreetBarangay Zone I (Poblacion)Church of God World MissionsNew Pangasinan - Magsaysay RoadBarangay New PagasinanKoronadal Grand MosqueEmilio Aguinaldo StreetBarangay Santa Cruz Masjid Ibrahim KhalilKoronadal - Tupi RoadBarangay Saravia Masjid Al-BuisanKoronadal - Columbio RoadBarangay General Paulino Santos Masjid Al-FuqarahPascual StreetBarangay General Paulino SantosMasjid Balik-IslamCrisologo StreetBarangay MoralesMasjid MarbelJuan Posadas StreetBarangay Zone II (Poblacion)
Economy
Retail and commercial
Koronadal is home to several major shopping malls, which includes Mall of Ace Centerpoint, Gaisano Grand Koronadal by the Gaisano Grand Group of Companies, CityMall Koronadal by DoubleDragon Corporation, and the homegrown Mindanao wide mall chain, KCC Mall of Marbel by KCC Malls. These establishments serve as key retail destinations, contributing significantly to the city's tourism and economic activities. In addition to these large malls, Koronadal also hosts a variety of locally owned, smaller shopping establishments, further solidifying its role as the primary shopping hub for South Cotabato and surrounding municipalities and provinces. The city is further poised for retail growth, as Robinsons Group, SM Prime, and Puregold Price Club, Inc. have acquired land for future development, which will enhance its status as the primary shopping hub for South Cotabato and the surrounding municipalities and provinces.
Government